Mitchelstown News from The Avondhu

INDUSTRIAL ACTION CALLED OFF

Planned industrial action by workers at the 4Home Stores in Mitchelstown, Fermoy and Cashel has been called off, writes Brian Moore.

Union members were due to begin picketing all three stores on Wednesday morning in solidarity with colleagues who were made redundant when stores were closed in the three towns. The protest was called off at the 12th hour when the unions representing staff at 4Home Store announced that the dispute had been referred to the Labour Court.

“After meeting with management, Mandate and SIPTU representatives, have advised their members that the matter will now go before the Labour Court at the earliest date. Therefore the unions and its members have decided to postpone the planned picket pending the Labour Court’s decision,” a union spokesperson told The Avondhu.

One employee, who does not wish to be named, was not confident of a positive outcome at the Labour Court.

“We have been treated with a complete lack of respect from the very beginning. There was no discussion other than ‘your jobs are gone and leave the premises. I hope that the Labour Court will sort this out but I wouldn’t count on it,” the former employee said.

The date for the hearing at the Labour Court has yet to be announced but union officials have called for the matter to be given priority and for the case to be heard as a matter of urgency.